18,000. Forces French Forces: Jean Lannes Corps: Lannes (8,000) Division: François Watrin 6th Demi-brigade Légère 22nd Demi-brigade de Ligne 40th Demi-brigade de Ligne Advance Guard: Joseph Antoine Marie Michel Mainoni 28th Demi-brigade de Ligne Attached units: 12th Hussars, 2 batteries, Consular Guard artillery Corps: Claude Victor-Perrin (6,000) Division: Chambarlhac 24th Demi-brigade Légère 43rd Line Demi-brigade de Ligne 96th Line Demi-brigade de Ligne Austrian Forces: Ott Division commanders: Vogelsang, Schellenberg O'Reilly Reisky Infantry Regiment (IR) No. 13 (3 battalions) Stuart IR No. 18 (3 bns) Splenyi IR No. 51 (3 bns) Jellacic IR No. 53 (3 bns) Josef Colloredo IR No. 57 (3 bns) Ottocaner Grenz IR No. 2 (1 bn) Oguliner Grenz IR No. 3 (2 bns) Lobkowitz Dragoons No. 10 Nauendorf Hussars No. 8 Archduke Josef Hussars No. 2 Battle On the morning of 9 June, the 6th Light Infantry Demi-brigade belonging to General of Division François Watrin bumped into an Austrian position and immediately attacked. Melas' chief-of-staff, General-Major Anton von Zach was on the scene and he advised Ott against bringing on a battle. Ott overruled him. Watrin aggressively fed his units into the battle, but found his three demi-brigades, two batteries and one cavalry regiment opposed by a superior force. Ott disposed of 26 infantry battalions and 15 cavalry squadrons, but his 35 cannons caused the French the worst trouble. For five hours, the outnumbered French soldiers tried to break the Austrian position. Twice they seized Casteggio, but were driven out by O'Reilly's troops. Attempts to flank the Austrian left were repulsed by the Lobkowitz Dragoons and an artillery battery. The 12th Hussars charged repeatedly to keep the French infantry from being overrun by the Austrian dragoons. Nine Austrian battalions defended a hill to the south of the village while, a short distance to the west, five battalions waited in reserve in the village of Montebello. The French received some help when the Consular Guard's three field pieces and other units arrived. As Lannes' command neared their breaking point at about 1:00 pm, General of Division Jacques-Antoine de Chambarlhac de Laubespin's division of Claude Perrin Victor's corps arrived on the scene. Victor sent the 43rd Line under General of Brigade Olivier Macoux Rivaud de la Raffinière to attack the enemy right, the 24th Light to assault the Austrian left and the 96th Line to charge the center. Despite intense Austrian artillery fire, the combined pressure forced back